SIGNS OF A FRACTURED RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD (PART 2)

We began yesterday by examining some signs of a fractured relationship with God. I explained that a fractured relationship with God is a spiritual relationship that is not working. It is characterized by lukewarmness, struggling to pray and do with difficulty in standing resulting in rising and falling always.

People with such fractured relationship are spiritually dependent on others; void of power or spiritual ability. They pray less, play more, talk more and care less. This was the testimony of the man called Aeneas (Acts 9:33-35). He was living among the saints, but he had a fractured testimony until Peter came “And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy” (verse 33). He was not born that way, it came along the line. He was (spiritually) paralyzed; living a dependent life and existing as a liability to the kingdom. His spiritual life was fractured. But when revival came upon him, “And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord” (verses 34-34). His life began to turn people to God.

Now, let us consider the remaining signs of such fractured relationship with God.

1.      CONDITIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

There are Christians whose service is tied to manna (what they get from God). They “give God conditions”, like “If you bless and prosper me, I will serve You.” You may have heard people “threaten God” to backslide if He doesn’t bless them.

The Bible says; “And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water” (Exodus 23:25). But these people reverse the scripture thus: ‘And if You shall bless us, we shall serve you.’ This is why you find some people whose reason for spiritual nonchalance is because things are tough for them. This is not the way to Heaven.

2.      UNFRUITFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away” (John 15:2a).

Unfruitfulness is the twin brother of unfaithfulness. Unfruitful Christians are liabilities to Heaven; they receive spiritual investment yet they yield zero profit. This is spiritual barrenness; “ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:8b).

Believers who are not involved in evangelism and soul-winning are unfruitful and hence unfaithful. If Heaven is not benefitting from your money, gifts, knowledge, you are unfruitful and your spiritual life is not correct.

3.      FLESH-MOTIVATED (CARNALLY-MINDED) RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

These people are out to make names onto themselves. Sometimes they appear to be working for God, but the things they do are carnally inspired. This is what makes people to give false visions and revelations, share false testimonies and engage in all sorts of negatives…they are after building towers onto themselves.

There are people who will only do things if they will be acknowledged before men or seen of men. In the church, they pray loudest whereas in their closet they prayer metre reads zero. They always want to talk and contribute to be seen and acknowledged of others. They are glory seekers. To these people, the Bible warns: “For to be carnally minded is death. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:6, 8).

4.      ASSOCIATED-ALTERED RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

This is similar to hypocritical and environmental relationships with God. These people want to serve and live for God, but their friends, relationships and association help them to sin, so they are up today and down tomorrow (rising and falling) and always confessing a particular sin.

I once taught that ‘there are some people who deserve a second chance in life but do not deserve a second chance in your life.’ These are the people whose presence at the first time made you sin, err and compromise, and they coming around you opens the door of sin and compromise. The Bible says: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful” (Psalm 1:1).

5.      A LIFE OF DISOBEDIENCE

These are Christians who negotiate with the will of God; once it does not suit them, they are not interested. Others live in ‘partial obedience’; for example, they obey God in the choice of career, but can never follow God’s leading in the choice of marital partner because they already have idols in their hearts. The truth is that ‘partial obedience’ is equal to disobedience. The Bible talks about “when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Corinthians 10:6b)…this is talking about complete obedience.

Do not be a disobedient Christian…disobedience (in whichever way) is a sin.

Beloved, is your relationship with God working or fractured? The platform for an acceptable life is a working relationship with God; that in which you are known to God on earth and in Heaven by your name being present in the Book of Life. Open your heart and let God revive His love and work in you. Live ready. Live blessed.

THE END

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SIGNS OF A FRACTURED RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

To have a fractured relationship with God is to be an at-risk candidate for the other side of Heaven. Fracture implies broken bone(s). It results in limitation of movement, alteration of speed, and declined output. The same way, when a man suffers from spiritual fracture, he becomes unable to flow with the brethren; his speed is slow and his spiritual output is very minimal. Such is the case of people whose relationship with God is not working. They are spiritually dependent on others; void of power or spiritual ability. They pray less, play more, talk more and care less about what God thinks about them…they are careless Christians tossed away by deceitfulness of riches and worldliness. Their Heavenly eternity is endangered and on the other side hell’s mouth is wide opened.

This was the testimony of the man called Aeneas (Acts 9:33-35). He was living among the saints, but he had a fractured testimony until Peter came “And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy” (verse 33). He was not born that way, it came along the line. He was (spiritually) paralyzed; living a dependent life and existing as a liability to the kingdom. His spiritual life was fractured. But when revival came upon him, “And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately. And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord” (verses 34-34). His life began to turn people to God. May revival overwhelm you!

We shall consider some signs of a fractured relationship with God

1)      MATERIAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

These people come to God only to ask for ‘blessings’ of jobs, cars, houses, life partners, money, etc. They attach so much value to earthly influence than eternal relevance. They assess a man’s spirituality by the reason of his possessions. To them, all is well between you and God when God lavishes breakthroughs on you. They look for prophets who can prophesy the future of mansions and successes to them. Tell them about holiness, they refer you to grace that covers their sins.

To these people, Luke 12:15 advises: “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

2)      SEASONAL RELATIONSHIP  WITH GOD

This category of people have a “relationship” with God that is season-defined. For example, during New Year eve, they seek God for the New Year, and after that they “disappear from God” and from church. For others, they remember God when there are challenges and oppositions; outside these, God has no place in their lives, yet they claim to be Christians. These are people who get jobs and forget God! And when the job gets lost, they return to God. This is not how to make Heaven.

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2).

3)      ENVIRONMENTAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

These people are like Demas; full of instability. When they are in Town A they become “Christians”, when they are in Town B they are lukewarm, and when they are in Town C, they are unbelievers. Their own Christianity is like the weather, constantly changing per location. To them, when in Town A, alcohol is not bad because of the people around. But in Town B, they even preach against alcohol. They are unstable brethren with fractured testimony. This type of living carries a curse attached: “Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel” (Genesis 49:4a). James 1:6-7 also declares: “For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.”

4)      HYPOCRITICAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

This is similar to an environmental relationship with God. These people’s lives are remote-controlled by friends and peers. They are men pleasers. When they see a true believer they also fake to be believers. We have many on Facebook. Since everyone around is posting spiritual things, they also go spiritual, but their lives off Facebook is calling for spiritual help and deliverance. They are “Facebook Christians”; outside it they have no testimony of genuineness. When they are in the midst of their worldly/secular friends, they drink, fornicate and say all sort of ungodly things only to go to church or come on Facebook and ‘form’ Born Again. They “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Timothy 3:5).

5)      STAGNATED RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

These are spiritual dwarfs; running up and down in the name of God, but lean and short in the spirit. They are not new to the gospel yet they do not grow in the gospel. They are too busy to pay the price for spiritual growth – too busy to pray or evangelize. Others are too lazy to commit time to study God’s word, yet some love food so much that they never fast. One way to know them is that they can spend hours playing games, gisting, watching football and/or movies, browsing, etc but when it is time for God or spiritual things, they lack interest. Some will attempt to “threaten” or ridicule your faith and commitment by telling you when they became Christians and what they used to do. They live in yesterday and with past glory without a secured future and eternity.

2 Peter 3:18: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

If any one of such is reading this, I decree God’s revival fire to set your knees back on fire in Jesus’ name.

TO BE CONTINUED.

PRAYER
Lord, let your fire visit my life and altar; cause every broken bone in my spiritual life to catch fire in Jesus’ name.

(If you wish to receive teachings from our ministry, you can subscribe to our online newsletter; visit www.treasuredhouse.org or send an e-mail with your phone number to: newsletter@treasuredhouse.org. You will also receive the complete version of this teaching sent to your mail box).